What is anti-Kell isoimmunization?

Anti-Kell is a condition in which the antibodies in a pregnant woman’s blood cross the placenta and destroy her baby’s red blood cells, resulting in severe anemia. This condition results when there is a mismatch between a mother’s and baby’s blood group Kell antigens.

What does it mean if you are Kell positive?

Simply having the Kell antibody (for moms) is not unusual or harmful. When antibodies are found on the mother’s red blood cells, the mother is referred to as being “Kell positive.”

What is Kell antibody?

Kell antigens are important in transfusion medicine, autoimmune hemolytic anemia and hemolytic disease of the newborn (anti-Kell). Anti-K is the next most common immune red cell antibody after those in the ABO and Rh system. Anti-K typically presents as IgG class alloantibody.

How common is anti-Kell in pregnancy?

Maternal anti-Kell antibody was found in 127 of 127,076 pregnancies during a 16-year period (0.1%). Thirteen Kell-sensitized pregnancies ended with a Kell-positive newborn infant, five of these had a poor perinatal outcome (hydrops, intrauterine or neonatal death, hemoglobin less than 7.9 gm, congestive heart failure).

How common is anti k antibody?

After ABO and Rh antibodies, anti-K is the next most common alloantibody with an incidence ranging between 14% and 28%. Studies have estimated the risk of forming an anti-K at 10% if an individual is transfused with at least 1 unit of K-antigen positive blood.

Is anti K clinically significant?

It is highly immunogenic, and Kell antibodies are considered clinically significant.

How common is anti-k antibody?

Is anti-K clinically significant?

Is Kell antibody clinically significant?

The Kell system (ISBT 006) is one of the most important blood groups in transfusion and obstetric medicine. It is highly immunogenic, and Kell antibodies are considered clinically significant.

What causes anti k antibody?

Examples of anti-K are usually produced in response to immunization by transfusion or pregnancy. They are usually IgG in nature and react primarily by the indirect antiglobulin test (IAT), but saline reactive/IgM examples have also been reported.

Is anti-Kell naturally occurring?

Abstract. “Naturally occurring” anti-Kell(Kl) is reported for the first time and was found in the sera obtained from two male adults. The two examples of this antibody were detected as a result of routine screening of donors’ blood for atypical antibodies.

What causes anti-k antibody?